Dentalcare for preteens 6-12 yrs

Key points :

 :Children have all their adult teeth by about 12 years old, except for wisdom teeth.

 :To prevent tooth decay, pre-teens should brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and avoid sugary foods and drinks.

 :Pre-teens should have regular dental check-ups, usually every 6-12 months.

Key point. 

Teeth development -

Between 6 and 12 years, children have a mixture of adult and baby teeth. By the age of 12, most children have all their adult teeth except for their third molars (wisdom teeth). There are 32 adult teeth.

When adult teeth are coming through

Your child might find chewing is more difficult when their baby teeth are loose or missing, but your child still needs to eat healthy foods.

It’s important for your child to keep up their teeth-brushing routine, taking extra care around loose baby teeth or sensitive areas. But let loose teeth fall out on their own. If you or your child tries to pull out a tooth before it’s ready to fall out, it can injure the gums and nearby teeth. This can cause pain and infection.

Sometimes an adult tooth will come through before the baby tooth has fallen out. If the baby tooth hasn’t fallen out within 2-3 months, see your dentist.

Toothbrushes: 

choosing and keeping them clean

Choosing a toothbrush

When you and your child are choosing a toothbrush, you can look for the following:

Soft bristles: these won’t damage your child’s gums or tooth enamel.

A long handle: this will help your child reach all their teeth.

A small head: this will make it easy for your child to move the toothbrush one tooth at a time around their mouth.

 * Keeping the toothbrush clean

You can remind your child to rinse the toothbrush with tap water after cleaning teeth and gums. And your child should store the toothbrush upright in an open container to allow it to air-dry.

It’s a good idea to change your child’s toothbrush every 3-4 months or when the bristles get worn or frayed.

* Fluoride and dental care :

Fluoride is a mineral that keeps teeth strong and prevents tooth decay. Fluoride is safe and works best when your child gets it in very small amounts throughout the day in:

toothpaste – at this age, your child can use regular adult fluoride toothpaste

tap water – most tap water in Australia has added fluoride

foods containing fluoride, like fruit or vegetables.

For children who are at high risk of developing tooth decay, dentists might also prescribe gels and pastes with extra fluoride.

Visiting the dentist :

. It’s important for your child to have regular dental check-ups. Your dentist will tell you how often your child needs a check-up. Dentists usually recommend every 6-12 months.

Your child might also see other oral health professionals, depending on your child’s needs. These include dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists or specialist dentists like paediatric dentists or orthodontists.

By : Dr Hetal Mojasiya